ARTICLES ABOUT IAN SCOTT BY DATE - PAGE 2

Just off Broadway, the understudies on the Bears' defense quieted a few more critics Sunday with another surprisingly stirring performance in a 28-21 victory over the New York Giants. Encore, encore. "We're unknown," said Hunter Hillenmeyer, one of the understudies. "But none of us have played, so it's not like we're guys that can't play and they're turning to veterans who haven't made it and are now coming through." It took awhile before the Bears' resourceful defense came though against New York.

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Ian Scott visited Tinley Park High School last week to thank students for raising more than $2,000 for Bears Care, the team's charitable organization. Assistant Principal Theresa Zielinski said Scott was a huge hit with the kids during his appearance in the school auditorium. "He was a great role model for the kids, especially when he threw in that he was valedictorian of his high school," Zielinski said. "Their mouths dropped, and everybody applauded."

Ian Scott once was quick enough to defend guards on his state-championship high school basketball team in Gainesville, Fla., and the Bears defensive tackle always has taken pride in his agility. Scott never bought the perception he was little more than a hole-clogging run-stuffer in coach Lovie Smith's upfield-oriented defense predicated on tackles possessing an explosive first step. Intent on shedding that label, Scott shed 30 pounds and slimmed down to 298 in the off-season.

Which Bear rookie is having the most impact on the defense this season? 80% Of those responding (511) said Charles Tillman while 11.8% (76) said Lance Briggs and 6.9% (44) said Michael Haynes. Joe Odom and Ian Scott also received a few votes. 642 total responses at ChicagoSports.com--the Web site of the Tribune's sports department

Blackhawks defenseman Jamie Allison, who finished last season tied for the team plus/minus lead with a rating of plus-7, has signed a new contract, general manager Mike Smith announced Saturday. Terms were not disclosed. Allison was left unprotected in the preseason waiver draft. - Dominik Hasek says he's gradually recovering from a mysterious illness that forced him to be hospitalized for two weeks. Hasek, 36, was admitted to a hospital in his hometown of Pardubice, Czech Republic, on July 5 for treatment of an unspecified illness that gave him severe pain in his joints.

The first words Ian Scott said to his wife when she told him she wanted to start a catalog of children's merchandise were, "You're crazy." Scott had good reason to be skeptical. When Karen Scott first concocted her catalog idea, she was a successful executive with Kraft General Foods Inc., enjoying all of the benefits that come with a secure position in a major corporate environment. Leaving that security behind was one thing, Ian reasoned. Investing blood, sweat, tears and money to start a business from scratch was quite another.